Travel &Discover Itineraries All Over Albania yours to discover A Walk Along Albanian Territory. Running from north to south, visitors can experience many different things inside a country even as small as Albania. If you are looking for an active holiday, you will find plenty of things to do. Through this pocket brochure, we offer you 10 suggested itineraries to choose from. There are numerous different attractions including mountain treks, deep valleys, national parks, lakes, archaeological sites, museum cities, castles, the coastline, and much more. A visit to Albania means that you’ll return home both relaxed and energized at the same time. Welcome and enjoy your stay! Travel & Discover Itineraries all over Albania INDEX TOUR 1 ............................................................................. 3 TOUR 2 .......................................................................... 13 TOUR 3 ........................................................................... 23 TOUR 4 ........................................................................... 33 TOUR 5 ........................................................................... 45 TOUR 6 ........................................................................... 51 TOUR 7 ........................................................................... 59 TOUR 8 ........................................................................... 75 TOUR 9 ........................................................................... 83 TOUR 10 ........................................................................ 95 2 TOUR 1 Tepelena Gjirokastra Delvina Finiqi Ionian Kakavia Saranda Sea Butrinti Greece Qafë Boti Saranda - Butrinti 18km Saranda - Finiqi 10km Saranda - Gjirokastra 56km Saranda - Ksamili 15km Gjirokastra - Antigonea 12km 3 TOUR 1 Saranda rule, Saranda was called Saranda, “the south Albanian by its ancient Greek name, seaport,” is located on a “Onchesmos,” after the father natural shelf facing the of the Trojan prince Aeneas, island of Corfu. There are who was born at Mount daily ships that depart, Ida by the Greek Goddess, connecting Saranda with Aphrodite. The city lies at this Greek island. Saranda’s the southern tip of Albania’s name originates from “the Ionian coastline and has a Forty Saints,” an old Christian very pleasant avenue, full monastery (Saranda means of palm trees and pebbled “forty” in Greek). The ruins beaches. In the center of of the monastery lay in Qafa the city stand the ruins of e Gjashtës, near the city the ancient city of Onhezmi, entrance. Prior to Byzantine destroyed in the 5th century A.D. by invading barbarians. Four small islands emerge in In 2002, a synagogue was the Ksamili area, covered by uncovered in the same area. Mediterranean vegetation Just 2 km south of Saranda, and surrounded by wonderful on the top of a massive hill, marine flora and fauna. is the Castle of Lëkurs. The A salt lake, which is a lagoon castle was built by Sultan of tectonic origin, lies inland Suleiman during his military near Butrinti. In antiquity campaign against Corfu. it was known by the name Today a restaurant sits in the Pelodes and it connects with fortress, offering a rich cuisine the sea through the channel and breathtaking views of of Vivar, 3.6 km in length. the deep blue Ionian Sea. Tourists can find a large Heading south, the coastline number of sea birds nesting changes its appearance. there. TOUR 1 Butrinti linked to the presence of the South of Butrinti Lake, 18 km Trojan prince Aeneas during from Saranda, sits the ancient his travel to the temple of city of Butrinti, the most Dodona. He paid tribute important archaeological site to the oracle of Dodona by in Albania, and a UNESCO sacrificing a bull (Buthros in World Heritage Site. The name Greek) in the place where the of Butrinti has been well city of Butrinti began to rise. known since the 7th century The Roman poet Virgil also B.C. as the most important mentions the visit of Aeneas city of Epirus. According to to Butrinti in his poem, “The Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Aeneid”. There are many the building of Butrinti was sights to see within Butrinti. The Archaeological Park of Butrinti The most interesting ones Venetian fortress of Ali Pasha, are the Temple of Asclepius and many others. Besides its (the 2nd century B.C. God of historical value, Butrinti is Good Health), a 1,500-seat renowned for its marvelous theater from the 3rd century ecological system. The ruins B.C. (which now hosts the and the buildings of the city International Theatre Festival stand amidst an amazing every September), the subtropical jungle, with Baptismal (a paleochristian plenty of laurel and other monument), as well as the high woods. nymphet, the baths, the stoa (covered walkway), the Lake Gate, the Lion Gate, the 7 TOUR 1 Gjirokastra On the way, just 10 km As you depart from Saranda, from Saranda, travelers will the national highway will find Finiqi, the capital of lead you to the unique city of the Kingdom of Epirus (and Gjirokastra, only 56 km away. named Foinike at the time), which was founded in the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C. Shën Kolli, built during the in the territory of Kaonia. Byzantine period. One of the The historian Polybus called most pleasant surprises along it, “the most rich and fortified this journey is Syri i Kaltër (the city of Epirus.” Southwest of Blue Eye), a powerful natural Finiqi in the hilltop village of spring that has created a small Mesopotam is the Church of lake of crystal clear water that looks like a giant human eye. The specialty of the nearby restaurant is the lake trout. TOUR 1 Past Qafa e Muzinës runs the stone, which resemble small national Gjirokastër-Kakavijë fortresses that form a complex highway. As you leave the of architectural monuments. village of Dropulli on your Due to its architectural value, left, the museum-city of Gjirokastra is a UNESCO World Gjirokastra unfolds in front Heritage Site. The main object of you, built on the eastern is the city fortress, named slope of Mali i Gjerë. Due to its the Fortress of Argjiro – the architecture, Gjirokastra is also renowned story of the famous known as the “City of Stone” princess Argjiro gave rise or “City of a Thousand Stairs.” to the name “Argjirokastro,” It is an ancient city with early given to the city in 1336. The inhabitants, above which was Weapons Museum, located later constructed a fortress inside of the fortress, displays that served as the center of weapons from the Paleolithic the city. What most attracts period up until the Second visitors to Gjirokastra are the World War. During your stay in traditional tall houses made of Gjirokastra you also can visit 10 the Ethnographic Museum. wall, the agora (market), Gjirokastra is famous for and the stoa of the city, its food specialties such which are 59 m long as shapkat, laropit, byrek and 9 m wide. It is worth (different kinds of pies), and mentioning that in the area, several dairy products known archaeologists discovered throughout Albania. Some of a seven-inch bronze statue the more interesting objects representing Poseidon, God and places you might visit of the Sea, and the Sphinx are the Theater of Sofratika, of Antigonea. Both objects the ancient city of Antigonea, are displayed in the National the Tekke of Melan, and the History Museum in Tirana. village of Sotira. The Theatre The Tekke of Melan can be of Sofratika, belonging to the found only 4 km south of Roman city Adrianopoli from the small city of Libovoha. the 2nd century A.D., held This religious object of 4,000 spectators in 27 tiers. the Bektashi sect is open Antigonea is an ancient city to everyone and guests from the 2nd century B.C. and are not only welcome but is nowadays an archaeological also treated with a special park situated in the Lunxhëri hospitality. The village of area, east of Gjirokastra Sotira is located in the region and close to the village of of Dropulli, populated by Saraqinisht. It is thought a Greek minority. It is a that the city was founded mountain village of a rare by King Pyrrhus of Epirus, beauty with little stone who named the city after his houses surrounded by the wife Antigonea. The city was fir forest of Sotira and many 35 hectares in size; its ruins water springs. The region of are located on a hill at 600 Dropulli, is known all over m above sea level. Tourists Albania for its fine women’s’ can visit the remains and folk costumes and their fragments of the surrounding elegant dances. 11 Gjirokastra and the Castle TOUR 2 Berati Adriatic Sea Apollonia Fieri Patosi Ballshi Narta Selenica Vlora Amantia Radhima Orikumi Ionian Sea Llogara Vlora - Radhima 22km Vlora - Narta 5km Vlora - Apollonia 42km Vlora - Orikumi 33km Vlora - Amantia 20km 13 TOUR 2 Vlora sights in Vlora include the Vlora is one of the largest Independence Museum (in and most populous cities in the headquarters building Albania. It is 130 km from of the first government), the capital, 120 km from the History Museum, and Mother Teresa International the Ethnographic Museum. Airport, and is home to Among the religious objects the second largest port in in Vlora, one of the most Albania. Vlora is rich in history important is the Mosque and antiquity. This historic city of Muradie, built in 1542 dates back to the 6th century by the chief architect of B.C., when it was known as the Ottoman Empire, Mimar Aulona. Fragments of the Sinani, who was originally massive wall surrounding from the region. He is the Aulona have been found in constructor of the famous the center of the city, close Suleymaniye Mosque in to Sheshi i Flamurit (Flag Istanbul and is also known Square). In 1081, the city fell for his work in other cities in under Norman dominion. Turkey such as Edirne (for the In the 14th century it was Selymie Mosque), Erzurum, part of the Kingdom of and others. Also, a prominent Arbëria, ruled by the Balshaj, hill above the city is home to Albanian princes, until 1417 the Bektashi Tekke of Kuzum when the city was invaded Babai.